| Location | Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba |
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| Geographic coordinates | 24 15 N, 76 00 W |
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| Zone | Central America |
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| Area | total: 13,940 sq km land: 10,070 sq km water: 3,870 sq km |
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| Land boundaries | 0 km |
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| Coastline | 3,542 km |
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| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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| Climate | tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream |
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| Terrain | long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills |
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| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m |
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| Natural resources | salt, aragonite, timber, arable land |
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| Irrigated land | 3,542 km |
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| Natural hazards | hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage |
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Environment - current issues | coral reef decay; solid waste disposal |
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Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| Geography - note | strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited |
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